Sound-box.



J. C. ENGLISH.

SOUND BOX,

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 23,19l2.

1,1 92,289. Patented July 25, 1916.

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35 I" l ///A 90 9] INVENTOR Jam Ga /s12.

VIVITNIESSES qiyM- BY Z I ATTOR'NEY ren srarns rarnnr orrrcn.

JOHN C. ENGLISH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR TALKINGMACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOUND-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN G. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Camden, county of Camden, and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

is a fragmentary front elevation of a sound.

box constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 a rearelevation of the same; Fig. 3 a longitudinal section on line 33 of Fig.2; and Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary longitudinal sections of twomodified forms respectively of the same.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention consists ofa sound box comprising a casing, including a fiat annular supportingplate or member 10, coaxial with thecasing and forming a portion oftheback thereof. This supporting plate 10 is preferably made ofcomparatively ri material, such as brass or any other suita le metal.Surroundin the central opening 11 of this plate 10 an projectingrearwardly from the plate, and integralor rigid therewith, is a tubularextension 15, which is adapted to telescope over the open freeend of theusual or any suitable hollow tone arm 16 or other support. The internaldiameter of the tubular extension 15 is preferably somewhat greater thanthe diameter of the central opening 11 of the supporting plate 10, thusforming an internal annular shoulder 17 between the tubular extension 15and the supporting plate 10, this shoulder being adapted to abut againstthe inner end of the hollow tone arm 16 to assist in holding the soundbox in position upon the tone arm. The usual pin 18 rojects inwardlyfrom the tubular extension 15 rigid therewith, and is adapted to performits usual function Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed January 23, 1912. Serial No. 672,961.

of engaging in a bayonet slot in the tone arm 16. The diameter of theopening 11 in the supporting plate and the internal diameter of the tonearm 16, are preferably made equal so that the inner surface of the tonearm 16- will be flush with the cylindrical wall of the opening 11.

Surrounding the supporting plate 10 coaxial therewith and slightlyspaced therefrom, is an annular marginal member 20, also forming aportion of the back of the casing of the sound box, and preferably madeof the same material as the supporting plate 10, or of any suitablecomparatively rigid material Therear -surface 20 of this marginal member20, is preferably flat and normally flush with the rear surface of thesupporting plate. This marginal member 20 is provided upon its outermargin with an outwardly projecting flat annular flange 21, integral andcoaxial therewith, and arranged flush with the rear surface 20 of themarginal member. The marginal member 20 projects forwardly from its flatannular flange 21 in the form of a cylindrical flange 22 having a flatannular forwardly facing end wall'23. From the cylindrical flange 22,the marginal member 20 tapers inwardly in thickness measured in adirection perpendicular to the rear surface 20, and the inner face 24:of the member 20 is conical in form and coaxial with the tubularextension, 15.

Telescoping snugly over the cylindrical flange 22 of the marginal member20 is a hollow cylindrical cap 30, also preferably made of brass orother suitable comparatively rigid material. This cap 30 has a flatannular rear wall 31 normally abutting against the front face of theflange 21 of the marginal member 20, and is provided with an internalannular shoulder 32 normally spaced slightly in front of the end wall 23of the ange .22 of the marginal member 20 and of equal dimensions. Thefront portion of the cap 30 is provided with an inwardly rojecting flatthin annular flange 35, coaxial and integral or rigid there'- with. Thecap 30 is secured to the marginal member 20 by means of screws 36extending throughthe flange 21 and threaded into the" rear wall of thecap, or by any other suitable means.

For yieldingly supporting the marginal member 20 and cap 30 carriedthereby, a flat yielding annulus 40 snugly surrounds the tubularextension 15 and is secured to the rear wall of the supporting plate 10and also to the rear wall of the marginal member 20. This yieldingannulus 40 is preferably made of felt, leather, paper, cork, rubber, orany other similar or suitableyielding material. It has been found thatfelt givesvery good results in this connection. The annulus 40 ispreferably clamped securely against the rear wall of the supportingplate 10 by means of a metal or other comparatively rigid annular washer41, fitting snugly around the tubular extension 15, and clamped againstthe rear face of the annulus 40 by means of headed screws 42, extendingloosely through the washer 41 and annulus 40 and threaded into thesupporting plate 10. The annulus 40 is also preferably clamped securelyagainst the rear wall of the marginal member 20 by means of a similarflat annular outer washer 45, surrounding and spaced from the innerwasher 41 and clamped against the rear wall of the annulus 40 by meansof headed screws 46 extending loosely through the washer and annulus andthreaded into the marginal member 20. The screws 42 through the innerwasher 41 are preferably arranged in staggered relation with respect tothe screws 46 of the outer washer 45. This outer washer 45 is preferablyprovided with an inwardly projecting marginal cylindrical flange 47which engages snugly over the outer marginal wall of the annulus 40, andthe inner end wall of which is normally spaced slightly from the rearwall of the marginal member 20. This flange 47 serves to confine theannulus 40 within certain limits and also protects the margin of theannulus and improves the ap pearance of the sound box.

The annular space 50 between the inner and outer washers 41 and 45 ispreferably opposite and substantially equal in area to the area of thespace 51 between the supporting plate 10 and the marginal member 20, andthese spaces are preferably only of sufficient width to permit of adesirable amount of yielding or flexing of the annulus 40 throughout theannular portion of the annulus included between these two annularspaces.

Any suitable diaphragm may be used in connection with the casing of thisimproved sound box, but in the present instance, an improved diaphragm,which has been made the basis of a separate application, is shown inthis connection. This improved diaphragm comprises a thin flat outerannular portion 55, made of cork or a composition of cork, or made ofother subereous or suitable yielding material, having little, if anytendency, to set up local vibrations. Surrounded by the flat annularportion 55 is a thin comparatively rigid cupped or conical portion 56,made of any suitable material, such as stifl paper, and arrangednormally coaxial with the sound box'casing, and having its convex sidefacing rearwardly The marginal portion 57 of this conical portion 56 ispreferably slightly flattened and over-- laps the inner margin of theflat annular portion 55 and is secured thereto, preferably upon thefront side thereof, by means of cement or glue, or in any other suitablemanner.

The outer marginal portion of the diaphragm is clamped securely inposition by and between the end wall 23 of the marginal member 20 andthe internal shoulder 32 of the cap 30 of the sound box casing. Thenature of the material form-ing the marginal portion of the diaphragmissuch that when the diaphragm is thus clamped in position, it adheres tothe walls between, and by which it is clamped and any possibility ofleakage of the air around the outer margin of the diaphragm is thusavoided, and also any tendency of the diaphragm to rattle is avoided.

Connected to the central portion or apex of the conical portion 56 ofthe diaphragm is one end of a stylus bar 60, which projects outwardlyfrom the conical portion in a direction substantially coaxial therewithto a point in front of the flange 35 of the cap 30, and then turnsradially outwardly in a direction parallel to the flange 35 and spacedslightly in front thereof. The outer portion 61 of this stylus bar isoffset rearwardly outside of the cap 30 and is mounted upon the cap 30to oscillate in respect thereto by means of spaced yielding connections62, these yielding connections being preferably arranged so thatthe axisof oscillation of the stylus bar is substantially in a plane with theflat annula portion 55 of the diaphragm. The "stylus loarv is providedwith an enlarged. outer end 63 adapted to hold the usual or anysuitable'stylus 64, which is held in place by the usual set screw 65.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that in the constructiondescribed, the sound box casing may be considered broadly as beingcomposed of two independently movable rigid members, one of which,including the marginal member 20 and the can 30, carries the diaphragmand cooperating stylus, and the other of which including the supportingplate 10 and its tubular extension 15, is adapted to be mounted upon thetone arm 16 or other suitable carrier, these two main portions of thesound box casing being connected by a: yielding or hinge-like meanswhich permits of the relative movement of the main portions of thecasing, and also acting as a closure for the space between theseportions. It 18 also evident that the yielding annulus 40 may be placedunder a greater or less initial tension by adjusting the screws 42 and46 to vary the compression of the annulus and that this variation of theinitial aperture or tension would correspondingly affect the yieldingqualities of the annulus and the freedom of movement between the twomain portions of the sound box casing, and give a correspondingmodification in the volume and quality of reproduction. It is alsoevident that in the operation of this sound box, the central portionofthe diaphragm will vibrate as a. whole without flexing, and thesurrounding portion will flex to permit of this vibration.

Instead of forming the back of the sound box casing as hereinbeforedescribed, of two spaced annular members, one surrounding the other,theback of the sound box may be formed of a single piece as indicated atin Fig. 4, and having a tubular extension 71, 71 divided and spacedapart as at 72, the two portions 71 and 71 of the tubular extensionbeing yieldingly connected by a cylindrical ring 73 of yieldingmateriahsuch as felt or rubber, etc, snugly surrounding the tubularextension and clamped to the two portions of the extension by means ofcomparatively rigid flanged rings 74 and 75 held in place by screws 7 6and 77 extending through the rings and threaded into the two portions 71and 71' respectively of the tubular extension.

A further modification of this invention consists. in forming the baclrof the sound box casing and its tubular extension in one part, asindicated at 80 and 81 respectively, and having an annular cap 82 spacedslightly in front of the back 80 and yield ingly connected thereto bymeans of a yielding cylindrical ring 83 surrounding the back 80 andengaging in an annular recess 84 provided therefor in the outer surfaceof the cap 82, the yielding ring 83 being clamped in position againstthe cap 82 and the back 80 by means of the rings 85 and 86 surroundingthe yielding ring and held in place by screws 87 and 88 respectively,extending through the 'rings and threaded into the cap and the backrespectively. In this case, the diaphragm is clamped in place between aring 89 and the flanged ring 90 carried by the cap 82, the latter ringbeing clamped in position by means of screws 91 extending through thering and threaded into the cap.

This invention is not limited to any specific construction disclosed, asvarious changes might be made in applying this invention Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or" the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States 1. A sound box casing comprisingtwo spacedportions, yielding substantially nonresilient means connectingsaid portions and means arranged to limit the outward radial expansionof said first-named means.

2. A sound box comprising an annular supporting member provided with atubular extension rigid therewith, an annular marginal membersurrounding and spaced from said supporting member, and yielding meanssurrounding said tubular extension and connecting said supporting memberand said annular marginal member.

3. A sound box comprising an annular supporting member provided with atubular extension, an annular marginal member surrounding saidsupporting member, a diaphragm carried by said marginal member, andyielding means surrounding said tubular extension and connecting saidsupporting member and said marginal member.

4. A sound box comprising an annular supporting member, an annularmarginal member surrounding said supporting memher and spaced therefrom,yielding means connecting said members and forming a closure for thespace between the same, and a diaphragm carried by said marginal member.

41A sound box comprising an annular supporting member provided ,with atubular extension rigid therewith, a second annular member surroundingsaid first-mentioned annular member, a diaphragm carried by said secondannular member, and yielding means connecting said annular members.

6. A sound box comprising an annular supporting member provided with atubular extension rigid therewith, an annular marginal membersurrounding said supporting member and spaced therefrom, and a flatyielding annulus surrounding said tubular member and connecting saidmembers.

7. A sound box comprising a casing including an annular supportingmember provided with a tubular extension rigid therewith, an annularmarginal member surrounding said supporting member and spaced therefrom,a substantially flat \'ielding annulus snugly surrounding said tubularextension and connecting said members, and annular means overlapping andengaging the outer margin of said annulus for holding the same inposition.

8. A sound box comprising a casing including an annular supportingmember having a tubular extension rigid therewith, an annular marginalmember surrounding said supporting member and spaced therefrom, ayielding annulus surrounding said tubular extension outside of saidmembers, a washer surrounding said tubular extension, means for clampingsaid washer against said annulus, an outer washer surrounding and spacedfrom Said first mentioned Washer,

and means connected to said annular marginal member for clamping saidouter washer against said annulus.

9. A sound box comprising a casing including an annular supportingmember having a tubular extension rigid therewith, an annular marginalmember surrounding said supporting member and spaced therefrom, ayielding annulus surrounding said tubular extension outside of saidmembers, a washer surrounding said tubular extension, means for clampingsaid washer against said annulus, an outer washer surrounding and spacedfrom said first mentioned washer, and means connected to said annularmarginal member for clamping said outer washer against said annulus,said latter washer being provided with an inwardly projecting marginalflange overlapping and engaging the marginal edge of said annulus.

10. A sound box comprising an annular supporting member provided with atubular extension rigid therewith, an annular marginal membersurrounding and spaced from said supporting member, an annular capcarried by said marginal member, a diaphragm clamped between said capand said mar mnal member, and yielding means connecting said supporting.member and said marginal member. 0

11.-A sound box comprising an annular supporting member' provided with atubular extension rigid therewith, an annular marginal membersurrounding and spaced from saidsupporting member, an annular capcarried by said marginal member, a diaphragm clamped between said capand said marginal member, and yielding means connecting said supportingmember and said marginal member, said diaphragm comprising a flat,annular yielding portion, and a comparatively rigid central portionsurrounded by and secured to said flat yielding portion.

12. Alsound box comprising an annular supporting member provided with atubular extension rigid therewith, an annular marginal membersurrounding and spaced from said supporting member, an annular meaesecap carried by said marginal member, a diaphragm clamped between saidcapand said marginal member, and yielding means con necting said supportingmember and said marginal member, said diaphragm comprising a flat,annular yielding subereous portion, and a comparatively rigid centralportion surrounded by and secured to said flat yielding portion.

13. A sound box casing comprising two separately movable portions,yielding means forming the sole connection between the said portions,and means arranged to compress said yielding means in one direction,said yielding means being held against expansion in a directiontransverse to said first-mentioned direction.

14. A sound box casing comprising two spaced portions, yielding meansholding said portions in spaced relationship, means to subject saidyielding means to different degrees of compression, and means to limitthe outward expansion of said yielding 15. A sound box casing comprisingspaced portions, yielding annular means holding said portions in spacedrelationship, means to subject said annular means to different degreesof compression and annular relatively rigid means inclosing saidyielding JOHN C. ENGLISH.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD K. MACEWAN, JOHN D. MYERS.

